National Center on Accessibilityhttp://hdl.handle.net/2022/3092
Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:08:09 GMT2016-12-09T16:08:09ZNational Trail Surfaces Study Final Reporthttp://hdl.handle.net/2022/17381
National Trail Surfaces Study Final Report
Montembeault, Nicole; York, Sherril
Trails provide opportunities for people to connect with the natural environment in a variety of settings and are places for all individuals, including people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities have the same desire to explore nature and physical barriers such as inaccessible surfaces and routes can hamper or even prevent opportunities to participate in the outdoor leisure experience for people with a disability. The purpose of the longitudinal surface study was to evaluate a variety of trail surface materials, and their ability to meet proposed accessibility requirements of firmness and stability from initial installation and maintenance over 51 months.
The research questions included: Does each of the 11 trail surface materials meet or exceed the classifications for firmness and stability as proposed by the US Access Board in their 2007 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Outdoor Developed Areas? When evaluating the firmness and stability of each of the 11 trail surface materials, how does each of the 11 trail surface materials compare to themselves over a 51 month time period? When evaluating the firmness and stability of each of the 11 trail surface materials, how does each surface compare to each of the other surfaces over a 51 month time period?
Results from the longitudinal study of trail surfaces included 11 different surface materials installed at Bradford Woods a unit of Indiana University and located in Martinsville, IN. All surface materials displayed varying issue(s) over time that may influence the materials performance and therefore the need for possible frequent maintenance. The implications of quantitative and qualitative data are that a trail composed of an all-aggregate material, when constructed to specified parameters, could be maintained with little to no maintenance as a firm and stable surface.
In addition to the longitudinal surface study, an electronic survey was conducted of trail managers throughout the United States. The purpose of the trails surface survey was to provide qualified professionals, resource specialists and operations staff of parks and other recreational properties with trails in the United States with descriptive and/or comparative information about the status of construction practices of pedestrian/hiker, natural surface trails in the United States. Despite a sixty-one percent survey access rate of survey invitees, the overall completion rate was extremely low. Therefore, the results can be addressed in terms of a general trend in types of surface materials used. The majority of trail surfaces were natural materials that did not use soil stabilizers. However, information on construction practices and maintenance issues was limited in the responses received.
Sat, 01 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/2022/173812014-02-01T00:00:00ZA Longitudinal Study of Playground Surfaces to Evaluate Accessibility: Year One Findingshttp://hdl.handle.net/2022/16893
A Longitudinal Study of Playground Surfaces to Evaluate Accessibility: Year One Findings
Skulski, Jennifer
In 2008, the National Center on Accessibility (NCA) at Indiana University initiated a longitudinal study of playground surfaces with research funding by the U.S. Access Board. The purpose of this longitudinal study is to evaluate a variety of playground surfaces, their ability to meet accessibility requirements, their costs upon initial installation and maintenance over 3-5years. The following information is a summary of year one findings. Data collection for the longitudinal study is scheduled to continue through September 2012, with a comprehensive report of findings to follow.
Sun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/2022/168932011-05-01T00:00:00ZA Longitudinal Study of Playground Surfaces to Evaluate Accessibility FINAL REPORThttp://hdl.handle.net/2022/16892
A Longitudinal Study of Playground Surfaces to Evaluate Accessibility FINAL REPORT
Skulski, Jennifer
The playground is a place for play and learning for all children, including children with disabilities. When the playground presents physical barriers such as inaccessible surfaces and routes, play, learning, development and the self-actualized benefits of the leisure experience can be stunted or even eliminated for a child with a disability. There are more than 100 different commercial varieties of playgrounds surfaces on the market. Lack of reliable product performance data on the effectiveness of safe, accessible playground surfaces relative to cost for installation and ongoing maintenance prohibits public playground owners from making informed choices on the selection of surfaces most appropriate for their public setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a variety of playground surfaces, their ability to meet accessibility requirements upon initial installation and maintenance over a five-year period. The research questions include: how well do various playground surfaces meeting the accessibility requirements upon installation? What are the costs for the various playground surfaces? What accessibility issues arise out of initial installation? What maintenance issues arise?
Results from this study indicate there is no perfect playground surface. Even within 12 months of installation, each type of surface has had some sort of issue or series of issues that may affect the product’s performance and contribute to the necessity and frequency of surface maintenance to assure accessibility and safety for use by children on a daily basis.
Tue, 01 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/2022/168922013-10-01T00:00:00ZSwimming Pool Accessibility: Recommendations and Product Informationhttp://hdl.handle.net/2022/6722
Swimming Pool Accessibility: Recommendations and Product Information
Bloomer, Raymond; Mispagel, Kathy; Hamilton, Edward J.
Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/2022/67221996-09-01T00:00:00Z